Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species in L929 Cells after Exposure to 900 MHz RF Radiation with and without Co-exposure to 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone.
Zeni, O., Di Pietro, R., d'Ambrosio, G., Massa, R., Capri, M., Naarala, J., Juutilainen, J. and Scarfi, M. R. · 2007
View Original AbstractCell phone frequency radiation at typical exposure levels did not create harmful reactive oxygen species in cells, unlike a known chemical carcinogen.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed mouse cells to 900 MHz cell phone radiation for up to 30 minutes to test whether it creates harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species. The radiation did not increase these damaging molecules at any exposure level tested, suggesting no immediate cellular harm.
Why This Matters
This study provides important evidence that cell phone frequency radiation at typical exposure levels does not trigger oxidative stress in cells. The exposure levels tested (0.3-1 W/kg SAR) are comparable to what your head experiences during a phone call, where SAR limits are set at 1.6 W/kg in the US. What makes this research particularly valuable is its rigorous design - the researchers tested both continuous wave and actual GSM phone signals, used proper sham controls, and even tested whether RF might amplify the effects of a known carcinogen. The negative results here align with a substantial body of research showing that RF radiation at these power levels doesn't directly cause the kind of cellular damage that leads to cancer. However, this single study doesn't settle the broader question of long-term health effects from chronic exposure, and the science on other biological mechanisms continues to evolve.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 0.3, 1 W/kg
- Source/Device
- 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 10 or 30 min
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The aim of this study was to investigate the induction of reactive oxygen species in murine L929 fibrosarcoma cells exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation at 900 MHz, with or without co-exposure to 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), a potent environmental carcinogen produced during chlorination of drinking water.
Both continuous-wave and GSM mobile phone signals were applied for 10 or 30 min at specific absorpti...
The studied provided no indication that 900 MHz RF-field exposure, either alone or in combination wi...
In contrast, exposure to MX resulted in a statistically significant increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species for all the treatment durations investigated, confirming that MX is an inductor of oxidative stress in L929 cells.
Show BibTeX
@article{zeni_2007_formation_of_reactive_oxygen_583,
author = {Zeni and O. and Di Pietro and R. and d'Ambrosio and G. and Massa and R. and Capri and M. and Naarala and J. and Juutilainen and J. and Scarfi and M. R.},
title = {Formation of Reactive Oxygen Species in L929 Cells after Exposure to 900 MHz RF Radiation with and without Co-exposure to 3-Chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone.},
year = {2007},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17316071/},
}